I'm guilty

I admit it, I'm guilty of sucking at Valentine's Day. I am guilty of forgetting to get David a card until minutes before the deadline. I refuse to get the children gifts. David, I went all 1980's and made a mix-tape, well CD, for him of his favorite 1980's music. Jen would be proud. But like all of my mix-tapes it was probably the wrong theme of the week!


Before  we were married I went all out for V-day. We would go away for the weekend especially if it fell, like this year, on a 3-day weekend. A huge gift, a sappy card and something from Victoria's. Those days are long gone my friends.

Now it is just another day for me. Which makes me sad in some ways. But more angry in others. Why do the marketing geniuses have to make me guilty for Valentine's Day? Isn't it enough that I tell my husband and children that I tell them I love them every day. Multiple times during the day:

• When they wake up
• When I or they leave
• When I talk to them on the phone
• When I or they come home
• When I am about to scream loud enough to cause a sonic boom over homework but still say I love you but DO YOUR FREAKING HOMEWORK

I counted and yesterday I told every member of the family I loved them a total of 173 times. That number may or may not be made up. But wait there is more! I also show them I love them every day:

• When I feed them
• When I shower them (the girls not David)
• When I provide clean clothes
• When I do not murder them for not starting the laundry (the David not the girls)
• When I give them the last brownie--homemade mind you
• When I do not throw away all their toys when I step on a Barbie shoe in my bare feet
• When I put down the wonderful book I am reading (Fault in Our Stars) to play a game with them
• When I do not let them win at Connect Four

Combined I spend every minute of the day (awake, asleep and somewhat comatose) loving my family.  Why on earth do I have to spend $6 proving it with a card? 

So I plead guilty. I am guilty of not falling into the trap of Merchandiser's Valentine's Day.